Know What's Happening in Retail
Know What's Happening in Retail
AI start‑ups deploy virtual‑try‑on tech to slash $850 billion retail return losses
AI start‑ups such as Catches are launching virtual‑try‑on platforms that create realistic digital twins of shoppers, aiming to reduce the retail sector’s $850 billion return problem. The National Retail Federation reports that 15.8% of U.S. sales – 19.3% online – were returned in 2025, eroding margins. Generative AI and cheap cloud compute now make these tools cost‑effective.
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Affirm kicked off 2026 with a flurry of strategic announcements, including a rent‑payment partnership with Esusu, a bank‑charter filing, and a debit‑card‑embedded BNPL solution via Fiserv. The firm also secured default checkout status with Bolt and integrated its BNPL service into QuickBooks invoicing. Collectively, these moves signal a deliberate shift from a pure consumer checkout tool toward broader B2B distribution and institutional financial services. Analysts view the rollout as an effort to position Affirm as a full‑stack fintech platform rather than a niche player.
Abercrombie & Fitch reported a 6% decline in operating income to £524 million for the year, even as net sales rose 6% to £3.95 billion. The fourth quarter delivered a record £1.25 billion in sales, up 5%, but operating income fell 8% to...
Beiersdorf’s AI‑driven Skin Age Clock, patented in 2021, reads epigenetic markers to estimate the biological age of skin. The technology underpins the Epicelline ingredient, now featured in Nivea and Eucerin lines, which claims to reverse cellular aging. To refine the...
Black Rock Coffee Bar, a specialty coffee chain that went public in September 2025, announced a roadmap to expand from roughly 620 locations to 1,000 stores within three years. The IPO raised about $150 million, providing capital for accelerated franchising and...
American Eagle Outfitters reported a record fourth quarter for FY25, posting $1.8 bn in net revenue, a 10% year‑over‑year increase. Comparable sales rose 8%, driven by a 23% surge at Aerie and double‑digit gains at the OFFLINE brand, while the core...
Particular Audience unveiled Search Model A/B Testing, enabling retailers to directly compare AI relevance models that drive organic and sponsored search results. Building on its Adaptive Transformer Search (ATS) technology, which has cut zero-result queries to under 0.5%—far below the...
Michael McGuire, who runs over 23 Jersey Mike’s Subs, is adding Mike’s Red Tacos to his 825 Ventures portfolio. The franchisee will open 15 birria‑focused locations, marking the first official franchise agreement for the San Diego‑born concept. Mike’s Red Tacos, a food‑truck‑to‑brick‑and‑mortar brand, has already secured more...
GWI’s latest research shows Amazon has become the favorite retailer for 52% of U.S. consumers, shifting loyalty from an emotional choice to a reflexive habit. Shoppers value frictionless experiences, with 59% prioritizing quick, easy checkout and a third demanding next‑day...
AgentPass has rebranded to Paz.ai, positioning itself as the infrastructure layer that links retail product catalogs to conversational AI shopping agents such as ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and Perplexity. The platform ingests feeds from Shopify, Adobe Commerce and Salesforce Commerce...
Former police officer Lavinia McIntyre was mistakenly identified as a shoplifter by a Budgens store using Facewatch facial‑recognition software. The technology, now employed by several UK retailers, flagged her without any proof, prompting staff to ask her to leave. The incident...
Starbucks India has partnered with nutrition brand SuperYou to launch a protein‑enriched cold foam add‑on for its cold beverages, priced at ₹50. The offering is now available across more than 500 Starbucks locations nationwide, targeting the “permissible indulgence” trend where...
Vivobarefoot launched VivoRewards, a sustainability‑focused loyalty scheme powered by Antavo’s AI Loyalty Cloud. Members earn 50‑200 points for actions ranging from profile completion and product reviews to shoe purchases, repairs, recycling, foot scans, and health courses. The program aims to...
Spanish fashion retailer Mango reported €3.8 billion in sales for 2025, a 13% increase over the prior year, and an EBITDA of €722 million. The company invested nearly €225 million in store expansion, technology, logistics and its new Mango Campus headquarters. In the...
Stuart Weitzman has launched its Spring 2026 "Concrete Paradise" campaign, starring supermodel Ashley Graham. The black‑and‑white visuals, shot by Ned Rogers, place Graham in the historic Westsider Rare & Used Books shop on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The campaign highlights the Vinnie Sculptural heel collection and...
TRG Group has launched OneMart, a 20,000‑sq‑ft supermarket inside its TRG The Mall in Greater Noida West. The store carries more than 10,000 SKUs, spanning fresh produce, private‑label items and national brands, and offers home delivery, loyalty programmes, and express...
Australian retail spending rose 5% year‑on‑year in January 2026, marking the strongest start to the year. Growth was led by cafes, restaurants and takeaway services, which posted an 8.7% increase, while other categories also posted double‑digit gains. Regional data shows...
Lidl GB will appoint Roberto Eretta as chief operating officer, succeeding Maciej Tylkowski who moves to an international role this summer. Eretta, currently COO of Lidl Italy, has spent nearly two decades with the retailer, rising from area manager to...
Meta confirmed it will drop credit‑card payments for ads next month, moving advertisers to invoice‑only billing to curb fraud and the “cashback loophole.” At the same time, student‑loan giant Sallie introduced Backpack Media, a retail‑media network that sells ad inventory...
![[Interview] Navigating AI with Confidence: Sam Haslam Director at WTW Risk & Resilience Advisory](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/0a1cb2ea6ddf028e51b36f6f4348d566.webp)
Sam Haslam, director of Risk & Resilience Advisory at WTW, explains how retailers are moving beyond chatbots to practical AI applications such as visual try‑ons, predictive supply‑chain models, and AI‑driven product design. He warns that rapid adoption without robust governance...
Sephora is deepening its K‑beauty hair‑care offering, now featuring 17 Korean brands after adding Dr. Groot and Unove. Dr. Groot will launch online on April 1 and in stores on May 15, while Unove debuted earlier with a seven‑SKU line priced $13‑$28. The retailer...
Barnes & Noble, once threatened by Amazon, has staged a notable turnaround under CEO James Daunt. Daunt imported the Waterstones formula, giving individual stores autonomy to curate selections and add lifestyle amenities. The chain opened more than 60 new stores...
The Iconic posted a 71% jump in adjusted EBITDA to $45.7 million for FY25, while its net merchandise value rose 6% to $893 million. Gross margin expanded by two points to 49%, reflecting stronger marketplace and platform services. Active customers increased 4%...
STIHL Inc. has introduced a dealer‑fulfilled B2B ecommerce marketplace built on Mirakl’s platform, letting customers browse and purchase chainsaws, trimmers and other equipment online. Orders are shipped from the company’s network of more than 10,000 authorized U.S. dealers, with pickup...
Grove Collaborative reported Q3 2025 revenue of $43.7 million, a 9.4% year‑over‑year decline—the smallest drop since 2021, while active customers fell 7% to 660,000 and orders slipped 12.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was a negative $1.2 million, but management expects a positive...
AutoZone reported Q2 2026 total sales of $4.3 billion, up 8.1% year‑over‑year, while EPS fell 2.3% to $27.63 after a $59 million non‑cash LIFO charge. Excluding the LIFO impact, EPS would have risen 7.1% and gross margin would have improved. Domestic same‑store...
The unboxing moment begins with a delivery notification and culminates when the customer lifts the box, shaping brand perception before the product is seen. Research shows first impressions form in just 0.2 seconds, with 94% of judgments based on packaging...
Discount grocer Grocery Outlet announced the closure of 36 underperforming stores, about 6% of its footprint, after reporting a $235 million operating loss and a $218 million net loss in Q4. The closures are concentrated on the East Coast, affecting roughly 30%...
Ahead of the 2026 World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, a WTCE‑hosted virtual roundtable explored how airlines can turn inflight food and beverage (F&B) from a cost centre into a profitable, digitally enabled retail experience. Panelists highlighted a mindset...
Capri flare yoga pants blend a cropped length with a subtle flare, offering a polished look while aiming to solve common leggings issues such as sliding waistbands, bouncing pockets, and awkward calf cuts. The article explains how fit elements—high waist,...
Walmart announced it will continue selling Apple Macs, adding the $599 MacBook Neo to its lineup. The retailer previously used the M1 MacBook Air as a low‑cost entry point, pricing it as low as $599 before inventory ran thin. The new...
Retail back‑office AI is reshaping security by turning passive camera feeds into proactive threat detectors. Smart cameras now analyze video, audio and behavioral cues to spot loitering, aggression or concealed weapons, while instant alerts route incidents to on‑floor staff. Integrated...
Retailers in 2026 are shifting sustainability from a marketing slogan to an operational imperative, integrating eco‑focused cleaning services, AI‑driven inventory management, and circular business models. Specialized cleaning firms now use biodegradable chemicals and LEED‑certified equipment, directly lowering store carbon footprints....
In this episode, host discusses Amazon listing optimization with Daniela Boltzmann, founder of Mindful Goods, highlighting the costly mistake of repurposing Shopify creatives for Amazon. Daniela shares her journey from a full‑service agency to a project‑based model focused on high‑converting...
MIGHTYLICIOUS Gluten Free, a woman‑owned brand, launched a line of award‑winning baking mixes and ready‑to‑eat cookies aimed at the 1.3 million Americans on gluten‑free diets. The products promise traditional texture and flavor while meeting vegan, vegetarian and kosher standards. Available in...
The FMI "Power of Produce 2026" report finds that 90 % of shoppers buy fruits or vegetables they hadn’t planned to purchase, with 48 % doing so frequently. Store‑provided recipes, cross‑merchandising and social‑media inspiration are identified as the strongest drivers of these impulse...
Target Corp. announced it will extend its next‑day delivery service to 20 additional metropolitan areas, pushing the total number of cities offering the option to more than 50 and covering roughly 60% of the U.S. population. The rollout is part...
Authentic Brands will integrate Seel’s agentic AI‑driven Worry‑Free Purchase platform to automate post‑purchase issues such as missing packages, claims and refunds. The solution will be deployed across its portfolio, which includes ten brands in Digital Commerce 360’s Top 1000 like Reebok,...
Sprouts Farmers Market announced the opening of a new 30,000‑square‑foot store at 3420 S US Hwy 27 in Clermont, Florida, with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony on March 6. The grand‑opening weekend runs March 6‑8, featuring promotions such as 20 % off for new Sprouts Rewards...
Retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG) systems dazzle in demos but stumble when faced with live ecommerce catalogs of tens of thousands of SKUs, exposing a "retrieval gap" between curated data and noisy production environments. The article identifies five recurring failure modes—chunking chaos,...
Circana unveiled Complete Why, an AI‑driven analytics platform for the consumer packaged goods sector, embedded in its Unify+ visualization suite. The tool models sales performance at store‑ and week‑level, evaluating up to 60 drivers such as price, promotions, distribution, competition,...
Meat sales in the United States hit a record $112 billion in 2025, up 2% in volume. Millennials and Gen Z drove two‑thirds of the unit growth, with many actively seeking more meat‑based meals. Over 98% of households buy meat, and 77%...
In this episode of Behavioral Science for Brands, Michael Aaron Flicker and Richard Shilton dissect the "Lucky Yatra" campaign by Indian Railways and FCB India, which turned ticket serial numbers into a daily lottery to incentivize fare payment. They explain...
Spicules, ultra‑fine needle‑shaped particles harvested from freshwater sponges, are emerging as the next K‑beauty breakthrough for 2026. Marketed as “liquid microneedling,” they form temporary micro‑channels in the epidermis, enhancing the delivery of co‑applied actives without invasive procedures. Korean brands are...
I spent 12 years figuring out how to collapse a $60K/month growth team into one person. The results: 3.15% forecast to target across $3B in GMV. 32% yoy revenue growth. 41% yoy contribution margin growth. Here's the entire playbook. https://t.co/0oPoA7oEd8
The U.S. dietary supplements market, valued at $68.74 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $131.08 billion by 2033, driven by an 8.5% CAGR. Vitamins continue to dominate, representing 28.1% of revenue, while immune‑health and specialty segments such as prenatal products also...
Aptar Beauty introduced NeoDropper Autoload, a next‑generation dropper for dermocosmetic and prestige skincare brands. The system combines a twist‑and‑push mechanism with an automatic refill applicator that delivers precise doses while preventing spills. Laboratory tests show microbial contamination four times lower...
Warner Bros. Global Experiences announced a new Harry Potter flagship shop on Oxford Street, London. The 21,000‑square‑foot, two‑floor emporium will open in autumn 2026 at The Ribbon, 134‑140 Oxford Street. The store will feature immersive photo opportunities, interactive displays and...
Casper hit a $750M valuation in 4 years with one move: a 100-night risk-free trial. They made buying a mattress feel safe. Meanwhile you won't even offer a simple money-back guarantee. That's the gap.
Depop announced that its Boosted Listing advertising fee will increase from 8% to 12% starting March 23, 2026. The change comes as eBay prepares to acquire Depop from Etsy in a $1.2 billion deal slated for the second quarter. Sellers have...
eBay has launched an invite‑only promotion that waives final value fees on up to 25 items for selected U.S. sellers. The fee exemption applies to completed sales in the baby, fashion, and home‑decor categories and is valid through March 31, 2025....
